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Job Search Expenses May Be Deductible

Posted by, on October 12, 2015

People often change their job in the summer. If you look for a job in the same line of work, you may be able to deduct some of your job search costs. Here are some key tax facts you should know about if you search for a new job:

Same Occupation. Your expenses must be for a job search in your current line of work. You can’t deduct expenses for a job search in a new occupation.

Résumé Costs. You can deduct the cost of preparing and mailing your résumé.

Travel Expenses. If you travel to look for a new job, you may be able to deduct the cost of the trip. To deduct the cost of the travel to and from the area, the trip must be mainly to look for a new job. You may still be able to deduct some costs if looking for a job is not the main purpose of the trip.

Placement Agency. You can deduct some job placement agency fees you pay to look for a job.

First Job. You can’t deduct job search expenses if you’re looking for a job for the first time.

Substantial Job Break. You can’t deduct job search expenses if there was a long break between the end of your last job and the time you began looking for a new one.